Let's Discover Malaga

Malaga City (GPS: 36.720 north, -4.420 west) is located on the Costa del Sol in Southern Spain.  It has been a popular tourist destination for many years and it is easy to see why. Visitors can expect temperatures to top the 30s during the peak Summer months of July and August as well as 300 days of sun a year. As the sea breeze creates a low humidity, it is a hot and yet comfortable climate which isn't stifling or sticky. The ancient City of Málaga has until recently been overlooked by many tourists. Arriving by air, it is easy to bypass the city, travelling east or west and not return until it is time to take your leave of Spain. This is without doubt a mistake.

A must see is the Baroque Cathedral  (GPS: 36.719972 north, -4.419778 west) built on the site of the old Moorish mosque. The cathedral is locally referred to as 'La Manquita' (The One Armed Woman), since it only boasts one bell tower and is open all year round. Walking east from here you can find the Plaza de Toros, fully operational during the 10 day Feria de Malaga held in the second week of August. Then you can enjoy a stroll back along the tree lined Paseo del Parque and the Paseo de España to the foot of Calle Larios.

Calle Larios,  (GPS: 36.71845 north, -4.42156 west) a beautiful marbled pedestrian street, offers quality and stylish shopping along its length.  Its full name is Calle Marqués de Larios, not to be confused with Calle Molina Lario which runs parallel to the east.  Forays into Calle Larios' smaller side streets reveal hidden insights into the Málagueno lifestyle. Here you will find monuments, character buildings and peaceful squares in which to take some refreshment. You may find the aromas from the restaurants hard to resist but as the choice ranges from ultra modern to traditional you will surely find one to suit so take the time to enjoy a relaxing meal. For light refreshment explore the numerous tapas bars or one of the Moorish tearooms (teterias).

West of Calle Larios towards to port is the busy street, the Alamada Principal, cooled by vast overhanging trees wonderfully decorated at Christmas with spiralling white lights If you look carefully you will discover Malaga's oldest wine bar (bodega) in the old customs house. They continue to serve various local wines from vast wooden barrels lined along one wall in their traditional fashion and your bill is written in chalk on the table in front of you. Enjoy a glass or two from their extensive range but beware of its deceptive strength. Across the River Guadalmedina, lies the El Corte Ingles department store where there is plenty of opportunity for more shopping.

Málaga loves to party and its celebrations during the Feria in August as well as the Christmas and Easter processions will take your breath away. The Plaza de la Constitución, on the north end of Calle Larios, is the focal point of these lengthy activities. The Feria celebrations in the city quieten down around nine in the evening but after a break for dinner the party continues at full pace on the purpose built fairground close to the airport. You may come away wondering if the locals ever sleep but the sheer scale and beauty of these cultural and religious events make a little fatigue worthwhile. So be prepared to stay up late and if you are planning to stay in a Malaga hotel, make your reservations early because although the city is well supplied with good accommodation they do fill up rapidly during these times.

For lazy days the city has long sandy beaches either side of the port, the more attractive being in the eastern end. Even in the height of summer you will find plenty of space to enjoy yourself. Try the beach bars (chiringuitos) whose food specialty is sardines cooked on skewers in front of an open fire (espetos). With the mild climate, the beaches can be enjoyed almost all year round. Alternatively, the hop on - hop off tour buses provide an excellent way to see more of the city.

The opening of the Picasso Museum (GPS: 36.72175 north, -4.418444 west) in Calle San Agustín, in 2003 has also attracted a lot of tourists to the city, flocking to see 200 works of art which constitutes the permanent collection as well as the now beautifully refurbished birthplace of Picasso. Visitors are able to take in some culture in the plentiful museums, galleries and churches or, if they prefer, relax on the miles of sandy beaches.

One of the most popular beaches in Malaga is the Playa Las Acacias. Running along the front of the city it is over a kilometre in length and 20meters wide. It is divided into small sheltered sandy coves by rocky breakwaters and is made up of yellow-grey sand and clear waters. Cleanliness is a priority so expect clean beaches year round and the lively promenade is made up of an extensive collection of restaurants, cafes and bars where the speciality of pescadito (fried fish) is always served.

Málaga is easily accessible from the Pablo Ruiz Picasso International airport by car, train or bus. There are many cheap flights to Malaga all tear round, so make sure to visit this vibrant and historic city which is currently bidding to become the European Culture Capital in 2016. Málaga is re-inventing herself. Be among the first to re-discover her.

Getting around Malaga is fairly simple as there are a number of options available to visitors. There are plenty of ways to hire a car at Malaga airport as there are lots of different car hire companies in the airport. Booking is straight forward and there are even options to book in advance from home but pay when you arrive. With so many different companies it is worth having a look around at which will suit your needs and which provides the best price. Alternatively, a number of shuttle buses are provided directly from the airport to popular nearby hotels and resorts are a reasonable price which may be useful if travelling in a larger group.

Once in Malaga City there are a number of travel options open to you. Public transport is an excellent option as it is plentiful and cheap; making a change to endless delays and cancellations we have come to accept in Britain. The Empresa Malagueña de Transportes (EMT) provides an extensive network of city buses which costs just 0.95 Euros for a single journey (at the time of writing - 2008) regardless of the duration. All the buses are air conditioned and the majority pass through the city centre so it is easy to catch a connecting bus.

Taxis are also a good option and are comparatively cheap compared to rates in England. They are white and are easy to flag down if displaying the green "libre" (available) signs. A trip around the city would be unlikely to cost more than 5 Euros and are a convenient way to get around.

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